Argument

2008-3-19 00:49:00

As I read along in Eckhart Tolle's books I come across some odd statement about every other page that makes me question the man's common sense. Here is one:

"When you live in complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life. Nobody can even have an argument with you, no matter how hard he or she tries. You cannot have an argument with a fully conscious person." (From "Power of Now.")

Now this probably sounds like a great statement to the emotionally polarized. "Yeah, man. Arguing is a bad thing. If he doesn't argue then he must really be enlightened."

It sounds like Tolle would never make it to this or any other forum on the net.

When I read this statement my "evil" mind reflected on those I have encountered in life who do not argue. The first group that comes to mind are the higher authorities in the Mormon Church. You can't have an argument with these guys. They just state their absolute truth and that is the end of discussion. Any further disagreement means excommunication.

All the tyrants of the past do not believe in arguing. They merely pronounced their truth in a positive manner and that is it. End of discussion.

Then I thought -- who is perhaps the most famous group in history for their intense discussions and arguments? It was the Founding Fathers, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, etc. And who was it that was above the fray and did not want to participate in the arguments?

It was the Royalists -- the supporters of the authoritarian British system.

Perhaps the most famous person who involved himself in arguments was Jesus. Everywhere he went he encountered people who argued with him and he argued back. We are even told he argued with the devil himself. He did not just ignore what the devil was saying as Tolle advises.

Other men who were deeply involved in arguing were Socrates, Galileo, Joseph Smith, Martin Luther, Newton, Copernicus, JFK, Lincoln, Edison, and virtually every single soul who has done anything of service for mankind.

In fact, who among the race has accomplished anything who was not good at presenting his case through argument? Even Gandhi made his case through argument from time to time.

If I were to meet Tolle in person the first thing I would do is to try and get a rise out of him. What would he do if I asked a provoking question? Just stare at me with deer in the headlight eyes or what? Maybe he'd just say, "Peace to you brother -- go your own way and argue with yourself till you find your essence."

Now if Dan and Susan tell me that I am misunderstanding again, that Tolle and I really agree on this, I think I'll scream.

"All power corrupts, but we need the electricity."
-- Unknown